Curtain-stretcher.



A. GUTE.

CURTAIN STRBTGHER.

APPLICATION IILED 11111.31, 1910.

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ANNA. GUTE, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

CURTAIN-STRETCHER.

Specification of Application filed January 3 Letterslatent- Patented May 30, 1911.

1, 1910. serial No. 541,102.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANNA GUTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of lashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to improve the efficiency of curtain-stretchers by rendering the same more convenient to manipulate for accommodating curtains of various sizes, and by affording improved means for securing a curtain to the st-retcher-frame.

lith these ends in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts as will appear in the following description and be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

1n the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a curtain-stretcher embodying my invention, with a portion thereof shown in section. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same with the fabric omitted and the pins housed. Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating one corner of my improved stretcher and showing the construction of various parts thereat. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail views illustrating parts hereinafter specifically described.

The stretcher frame is comprised of end bars 10 and side bars 11 whereof the latter are each constructed of two lengths which are connected at their meeting ends by hinges 12 so that the frame may be folded to occupy less space when not in use. These hinges may be located upon the upper faces of the respective bars and, to secure the frame in its extended condition, a fastening, such as bolt 13, Fig. 2, is provided upon the sides of the bars opposite to that whereon the hinges are applied.

The several side and end bars have fixedly secured, as by screws 14, to one end of each an arm plate 15 (see Figs. 1 and 4) of greater length than the width of a bar so as to afford a portion 15 to protrude from the inner face of the bar. A slidable pin plate 16 is provided for each of the plates 15 and is connected therewith from one end by having a laterally directed reduced end, or stud, 16 which sockets in a hole 17 provided in the plate 15, and from its other end by a clamp screw 18 extending through a hole 17 in the plate part 15 to engage in a threaded hole 16" in the plate 16. Fixedly secured to each of said bars and to the end thereof opposite to that to which the plate 15 is connected is a fixed end plate 19 having a limb 19 extending for a distance longitudinally along the inner face of a bar. Said plate-limbs are severally provided with a slot 19 wherethrough the respective studs 16 and screws 18 extend to couple the plate 15 which is located outside of the plate 19 with the plate 16 upon the inner side of the same. The plates 15 and 16 are of greater widths than the respective slots and to accommodate the plate 16 a recess 2O for each is provided to the rear of the plate limb 19. As thus assembled the plates 15 and 16 vserve as jaws between which the plate-limb 19 is clamped by manipulating the appropriate screw 18.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the plates 15 are juxtaposed with the plate-parts 19 and consequently the frame may be adjusted by moving the bar ends which are equipped with the clamping-jaws in or out with respect to the ends which are provided with the plates 19.

Each bar of the frame is formed as shown in Fig. 3, with a longitudinal groove 21 in its top face and a correspondingly arranged groove 22 at the bottom. These grooves are connected by a series of spaced apertures each comprised of a chamber 23 opening into the groove 22 and a relatively small hole 24 opening into both said chamber and the groove 21. The holes 24 are disposed to be in the plane of the inner edge 21 of the respective grooves.

An advantageous manner of forming the frame-bars is by making grooves 21 of an initial depth to extend down to the chambers 23 below and then inserting a strip 26 within the groove and which is provided with notches along one edge to furnish the aforementioned holes 24. As shown, the stock at each side of the grooves 21 is recessed, as at 21, to receive the edge portions of the respective strips. These strips may be provided with graduated marks 25, Fig. 3, to facilitate the adjustment of the frame and also in setting out selected pins of the stretcher devices.

The abovementioned pin devices, see Figs. 3 and 6, are each comprised of a single piece of spring wire formed with two arms 27 and 27 of unequal lengths which extend from an intermediate coiled part 28. The pins are inserted through the bar grooves 22 to have both of the pin arms extend into the respective chambers 23, while the longer arms extend through the holes 24 into the groove 2l beyond, whereat they are bent outwardly with respect to the 'frame to furnish impaling hooks 29 whereby curtain fabrics are directly engaged, as indicated in Fig. l.

To employ the stretcher, it is first adjusted to a size suitable for a curtain and is thus secured by the clamp screws 18. Selected pins are next protruded from the various bars to occupy positions corresponding to that indicated by dotted lines a in F ig. 3. The curtain is then engaged about its margin upon such protruded pins and so maintained until the drying of the fabric is completed. After the curtain is removed, the pins are thrust back into the positions represented by full lines in Fig. 3, and whereat, the entire pin will, as shown, be housed within the bars.

It is to be noted that in use the pin arms 27 will bear against the groove edges 2l to serve as a bracket support in proximity to the hooks and enable the same to withstand a. considerable strain without becoming distorted. Furthermore, by forming the pinarms with a normal spread greater than the width of the chambers 23 the resiliency of the pin arms, supplemented by the pin coils, acting against the walls of such chambers will effect the maintenance of the pins in set positions, viz-in their housed or protruding positions.

What I claim as my invention, is

l. In a curtain-stretcher, a frame comprising end-bars and side-bars adjustably connected together, said bars being each formed with a groove in its front face, a groove in its rear face and a series of openings between the respective grooves, in combination with a plurality oi pins extending through said openings into both of the grooves of the respective bars, said pins each provided with an impaling hook which is adapted to be lodged in the respective facegroove when unemployed or protruded therefrom for use.

2. In a curtain stretcher, the stretcherframe comprising side bars and end bars, one end of each of said side bars having rigidly secured thereto a slidable pin plate, an arm plate, a slotted end plate secured to the opposite end of each' of said bars and interposed between the respective first named plates, and clamp screws extending through the slots of the said end plate and engaging the other plates for securing the frame bars in adjusted positions.

3. In a curtain stretcher, the stretcher frame comprising two part foldable side bars and integral end bars, one end of each of said bars having rigidly secured thereto a slidable pin plate, an arm plate connected with the first named plate, a slotted end plate secured to the opposite end of each ot said bars and interposed between the two iirst named plates, and clamp screws extending through the slots of the said end plate and engaging the other plates for securing the frame bars in adjusted posit-ions.

ANNA GUTI-I. lVitnesses PIERRE BARNES, H. BARNES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. C.

Commissioner of Patents, 

